Toy gun for discharging air bullets



Feb. 27, 1951 -WEISS TOY Gun FCR DISCHARGING AIR BULLETS s Sheets-Sheet; 1

Filed May 14, 1947" INVENTOR Gerhurt Weiss ATTORNEY Feb. 27, 1951 G. WEISS TOY cum FOR nzscx-umcmc AIR BULLETS v3 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed May 14, 1947 INVENTOR Gerhurt Weiss ATTORNEY v Feb. 27, 1951 v s. WEISS TOY mm 'FoR-mscmwmc AIR BULLETS Filed May 1 4, 1947 IN VEN TOR.

Gerhurt Weiss ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 27, 1951 TOY FOR DISCHARGING- AIR BULLETS Gerhart. Weiss, Sunnyside, N. Y.,, assignor to Orville N. Greene, New York, N. Y,

Application May 14, 1947, Serial No. 747,886:

This invention relates to a toy gun. More rm" ticularly it relates to a toygun based on the vettex principle which fires air bullets and wh h is perfectly safe for children toplay with.

An object of this invention is toproduce an improved toy gun operating on the vortex principle which looks and acts like a real gun.

Another object of the invention is to produce a gun adapted to eject a blast of air capable of blowing over objects at a distance of" 20 feet or more.

Another object of the invention is to produce a toy gun which shoots only air bullets and which is fool proof in the; respect that a. child. cannot injure himself or anyone else even though he should fire it directly into the face of another person.

Another object of the invention is. to produce a toy gun that can be accurately aimed and fired so that it shoots true and will knock over objects at a considerable distance only the aim is true.

Another object of the invention is to. produce a toy gun operating on the vortex principle in which a controlled spring-operated piston strikes a diaphragm to. expel a vortex ring.

Another object of the invention is to produce a toy gun operating on the vortex principle in which a controlled spring-operated piston strikes a diaphragm to expel a vortex ring, and in which the striking means is enclosed and unexposed so as to make accurate aim possible and also to insure that the gun be absolutely safe for chi1- dren.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toy which is a combination of a gun having a striking mechanism with a vortex air chamber for shooting gas bullets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for attaching a diaphra m-cont in vortex air-expelling device to a toy gun which has a striking mechanism so that the striking mechanism of the gun is adapted to operate the diaphragm of the vortex air-expelling device.

These and other objects ancillary thereto are obtained by combining a vortex expelling device having a relatively shallow air chamber with a relatively small orifice in the. front of the cham-- ber and a flexible diaphragm at the back of the chamber with a gun having a piston capable of developing a strong strikin force having a large movement of inertia in such a way that the piston is adapted to strike the rear of the diaphragm to suddenly and evenly expel a blast of air from the orifice of the vortex expelling device; Special provision is also made for sights 7. Claims. (0!. 124-1) to aim the gun of the, present invention, and for shielding the striking mechanism. It; is particularly to be emphasized that. a blow of proper force must be, delivered to a predetermined locus to obtain the desirable distance of travel of the bullet and proper predetermined direction.

The novel features characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of:

operation, together with additional objects and,

advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side view partly in cross-section of the gun in cocked position.

Figure 2 is a side view similar to Figure 1 but showing the gun just after firing.

Figure 3 is a modified type of gun.

Figure 4 is a detail view showing a modified type of mounting for the vortex chamber and hammer.

Figure 5 is a detail view similar to Figure 4 showing another modification.

Figure 6 is a side view showing a modified form of mounting for the vortex chamber.

Figure '7 is a view-similar to Figure 6 showing another modification.

Figure 8 is a detail view showing a modified type of chamber.

Figure 9 is a detail view of another modification of the vortex chamber.

Figure 10 is a detail cross-sectional view of another modified form of vortex chamber.

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 but showin the parts of the chamber on firing.

Figure 12 is a detail cross-sectional view of still another type of vortex chamber.

From the drawing it will be seen that the combination gun of the present invention comprises two essential parts. One part is a vortex expellin device and comprises a short or a shallow cylindrical chamber with a front wall having a central orifice and with the rear end of the chamber closed by a flexible diaphragm. The other essential feature is the gun mechanism which is adapted to hold the chamber while permitting free movement of the diaphragm and also is designed to deliver a sharp blow to a predetermined space on the diaphragm.

The ejecting chamber of Figure 1 comprises a front wall I having an orifice 2 therein and the cylindrical side 3. Preferably the orifice 2 is circular or elliptical but if desired it can be made polygonal. It is also preferred to make the side wall 3 cylindrical but they can be made elliptical or polygonal. Firmly attached to the side wall 3 are the edges 5 of the diaphragm 6. The diaphragm 4 can be made of any known non-porous flexible material such as rubber, Vinylite, plasticized resinous products, leather, airproof fabrics, and so forth. Firmly attached to the center portion of the flexible diaphragm 4 is the stiff reinforcement 6. This reinforcement 6 may be made of plastic material, metal or any material which is relatively stiff. In some cases it is preferred to make the reinforcement of transparent plastic material such as styrene or methyl methacrylate resin. For. example, when the reinforcement 6 is made of transparent material a hole 1 may be cut in the flexible diaphragm so that one can see through the plate 6, the hole I and the orifice 2 and thereby aim the gun. There is also some advantage in making the reinforcing disk 6 of wood, for example plywood, since such material produces a very desirable sound effect.

The gun portion of the pistol may be of any well known type which is adapted to strike a blow against the reinforcement 6. It is preferred, however, that the plunger be weighted so that it will develop a considerable amount of inertia.

According to Figure 1 the ejecting chamber is attached to the gun portion by means of a bracket l2. Any means may be employed to attach the ejecting chamber to the gun but it must be remembered that the diaphragm must be capable of moving relative to the stock and barrel of the gun. The bracket I2 is shown in Figure 1 as being attached to the stock Id of the gun by the screw 3.

A suitable type of gun mechanism is shown in Figure 1 in which the gun has a barrel 2| which is attached to the stock by a screw 22 and a nut 23. The nut 23 also serves to hold one end of the spring 24. The plunger 28 is threaded at one end and extends through the helical spring 24. The threads at the end of the plunger 23 support a washer 25 and a nut 26 to hold the other end of the spring 24. A weighted nut 21 is also added at the end of the plunger 28. The other end of the plunger 28 supports a button 32 which forms a holder that can be grasped and pulled to cock the gun. The plunger is held in cocked position by annular notches 30 and 3| which cooperate with a catch 33 which moves in an orifice 35 in the gun stock. The catch 33 is pressed upwardly by the spring 34. The catch 33 contains a notch 38 which is engaged by one end of a trigger 36 pivoted at 31. Pulling the trigger 36 backward pushes the catch 33 downward against the action of the spring 34 and releases the plunger 28 thereby discharging the gun. A diagrammatic showing of the vortex ring discharged is shown at 40 of Figure 2.

' As shown in Figure 3 the ejecting chamber may have a front plate which is dish shaped. Such a front plate has a flat front surface 5|, an orifice 52, and a sloping circular edge 53. Stretched over the back of the sloping edge is the diaphragm 54 having the reinforcing plate 55 attached thereto. It is sometimes preferable to reinforce the striking surface of the reinforcing plate. Thus, a metal plate 56 is shown in Figure 3. This plate 56 is capable of being struck many times by the weighted piston without breakmg.

The method of attaching the ejecting chamber can be varied as desired and in Figure 3 it is shown as being attached so that it projects underneath the barrel of the gun. The chamber is attached to the barrel 66 in any desired way and is also held by a bracket 6| which is integral with the gun portion. For this type of gun a pivoting hammer 62 which is pivotally mounted at 63 is disclosed. The hammer moves in an are about the pivot point 63. The are in which the hammer moves is covered by a protecting means 64.

A different type of trigger mechanism is shown in Figure 3. A trigger 10 is pivotally mounted at 65 and has attached thereto a rod II. The other end of the rod 1| passes through a disc 15, a helical spring 16, and a second disc 12 and comprises an enlarged end 56 to prevent the disc 12 from moving 01f the end thereof. Attached to one end of the hammer 62 is the rod 14 which passes through the disc 12, the helical spring 16 and the disc 15 and comprises an enlarged end 61 to prevent the disc 15 from moving off the end thereof. The hammer 62 contains a notch which registers with a catch 16 which is pressed against the hammer by the spring 79. The disc 12 comprises a portion 11 which upon movement to the left as shown in Figure 3 will dislodge the catch 18 from the notch 80 in the hammer 62. The hammer 62 is drawn back to the position shown in Figure 3 after firing by the spring 84.

The trigger mechanism as shown in Figure 3 operates as follows. As the trigger 10 is pulled backwardly the disc 12 moves toward the disc 15 against the action of the spring 76. As the movement of the trigger l0 continues the portion 11 of the disc 12 pushes the catch 76 out of the notch 8|] and the spring 16 is thereby suddenly permitted to expand and pull the end 13 of the hammer 62 to the left causing the hammer 62 to strike the metal disc 56. When the trigger is released the spring 84 pulls the hammer 62 back to the position shown in Figure 3. The position of the diaphragm 54 and the hammer 62 in firing is shown in dotted lines.

Another method of eccentrically mounting the expelling chamber is shown in Figure 4. In this figure the chamber is mounted below the barrel but at the end thereof. The cylindrical portion 3 of the chamber is attached at the top directly to the barrel 2| and at the bottom is attached to the bracket l2. This permits the use of the normal end sight I00 in the gun. The hammer 62' operates in a similar way to that shown in Figure 3.

Another method of eccentrically mounting the expelling chamber is shown in Figure 5. In this figure the center of the chamber is mounted slightly above the barrel 2| of the gun. The chamber is held to the gun by suitable brackets l2. The chief advantage of this type of device is that a hole 9| may be cut through the center of the diaphragm and reinforcing plate and may serve as the end sight. When the hammer 62 is forced against the reinforcement disc 56 to expel the vortex ring the tip 92 automatically closes the orifice 9|.

According to the modification shown in Figure 6 the ejecting chamber is attached to the end of the gun by the enclosing funnel 93. The top of the ejecting chamber supports an end sight i6! and the barrel of the gun supports an elevated sight I62 so that the gun is aimed by sighting over the expelling chamber.

According to the modification shown in Figure 7 the expelling chamber is applied to a pistol creamer type of gun E03 and isheld in place by a can shaped member I I 2; The can has a cylindrical portion I I t adapted to fi ton the end of the pistol. The cylindrical portion I IA can be. united to the cylinder 3 of the ejecting chamber by spotv welding, by screws, by rivetting or by any other means;

A modified type of ej ecting. chamber is shown in Figure 8. This ejecting chamber comprises. a front wall I 2I containing an orifice I22 and a cylindrical side wall I23. Within the: side. wall I23 there is. inserted a ring I30 of. sponge rubber.

The sponge rubber is made relatively soft so that it is collapsible toward the. front Wall IZI'. The rear wall of the ejecting chamber comprises a relatively stiff disc: I24 and a reinforcing disc I26 Although the disc I24. is relatively stiff it can be pressed against the sponge rubber ring I30 to cause av vortex ring to be expelled. Agun mechanism comprising a barrel 2! and a plunger 28 having a weight 2:? on the; end thereof similar to that shown in Figure. 1 may be employed to strike the reinforcing plate I 26.

Figure 9 shows another modification of the expelling chamber. This modification is substantially the same as the expelling chamber shown in Figure 1 except for the shape of the reinforcing plate. In this figure the reinforcing plate I40 is dished inwardly. The column of air in the chamber is. therefore, thinner at the edges and the air next to the edge of the reinforcing plate does not have to move as far as the air inwardly of the edge before it is forced downwardly toward the orifice 2.. Thus, all the air reaches the edge of the orifice 2 at approximately the same time.

Figures and 11 show another modification of the expelling chamber. In this modification a round projection I43 which is smaller than the v orifice 2 of the front plate is attached to the diaphragm member. This projection M3 aids in the formation of a vortex ring. On firing the device the projection I43 may extend partly through the orifice 2 as shown in Figure 11.

Still another type of diaphragm'is shown in Figure 12. The diaphragm I50 of this modification is neither flexible like rubber nor still like metal but is semirigid and may be made of relatively heavy plastic material such as cellulose acetate. The diaphragm has an integrally molded circular ridge I52 therein and a molded rim I5! which is united to the cylindrical portion 3 of the chamber. Within the circular ridge I52 there is cemented or otherwise secured reinforcing plate I26. The circular ridge I52 gives the diaphragm the necessary resiliency to enable it to be pressed toward the front plate I to expel a vortex ring from the orifice 2. Two or more circular ridgescan be employed. When the diaphragm I56 and the reinforcing plate I26 are both made of transparent material such as a cellulose ester, lucite, polystyrene, urea formaldehyde resin, etc. one can see through the orifice 2 from the sights on the gun barrel to aim the gun.

Although all the devices in the drawings are shown as having a circular vortex chamber and orifice, other shapes can be employed with good results. The chamber and orifice can also be elliptical or inthe shape of a regular polygon, if desired.

Although certain specific embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that many modifications thereof are possible. This invention, therefore, is not r. Atoy adapted to shoot gaseous. bullets. comprising a gun portion, avortex-expelling chamber portion and a means for attaching the gun portion to the chamber portion; said vortex expelling chamber portion comprising a front: wallhaving a centrally located hole therein, a flexible elastic substantially planar diaphragm opposite said front. wall, a stiff reinforcing member covering the central portion of said diaphragm, and solid side walls between the front wall and the diaphragm; said gun portion comprising a barrel, means. for attaching said expelling chamber portion adjacentthe diaphragm thereof to the barrel of said gun sothat the diaphragm of said chamber is free tomove relative to the barrel of said gun and so that the axis of said barrel coincides. with the axis of said chamber which extends from the center of the diaphragm to the center of the. hole in the front wall, an impellable Weighted means movable in said barrel from a position in back of said diaphragm to a position beyond the normal position of the diaphragm of said chamber, means for impelling said weighted means to. ward and against the central part of said reinforcing member.

2. A toy adapted to shoot gaseous bullets comprising a gun portion, a vortex-expelling chamber portion and a means for attaching the gun portion to the chamber portion; said vortex expelling chamber portion comprising a front wall having a centrally located hole therein, a flexible elastic substantially planar diaphragm opposite said front wall, a stiff reinforcing member covering the central portion of said diaphragm, and solid side walls between the front wall and. the diaphragm; said gun portion comprising a barrel, means for attaching said expelling chamber portion adjacent the diaphragm thereof to the barrel of said gun so that the diaphragm of said chamber is free to move relative to the barrel of. said gun and so that the axis of said barrel coincides with the axis of said chamber which ex-i tends from the center of the diaphragm to the center of the hole in the front wall, an impellable weighted means movable in said barrel from a position in back of said diaphragm to a positionbeyond the normal position of the diaphragm of said chamber, spring means forimpelling said weighted means toward and against the central part of said reinforcing member.

3. A toy adapted to shoot gaseous bullets comprising a gun portion, a vortex-expelling cham-.

ber portion and a means for attaching the gun portion to the chamber portion; said vortex expelling chamber portion comprising a front wall having a, centrally located hole therein, a flexible elastic substantially planar diaphragm opposite said front wall, a stiff reinforcing member covering the central portion of said diaphragm, and solid side Walls between the front wall and the diaphragm; said gun portion comprising a barrel, means for attaching said expelling chamber portion adjacent the diaphragm thereof to the barrel of said gun so that the diaphragm of said chamber is free to move relative to the barrel of said gun and so that the axis of said barrel coincides with the axis of said chamber which extends from the center of the diaphragm to the center of the hole in the front Wall, a piston in said barrel, said piston being weighted at its end nearest the chamber and being adapted to be moved axially of said barrel beyond the normal position of the diaphragm of said chamber, compressible means associated with said piston and adapted to force the latter toward and against the said reinforcing member of said chamber diaphragm when the compressible means is released, and trigger means adapted to hold but operable to release the compressible means when in the compressed position.

4. A toy adapted to shoot gaseous bullets comprising a gun portion, a vortex-expelling chamber portion and a means for attaching the gun por tion to the chamber portion; said vortex expelling chamber portion comprising a front wall having a centrally located hole therein, a flexible elastic substantially planar diaphragm opposite said front wall, a stiff reinforcing member covering the central portion of said diaphragm, and solid side walls between the front wall and the diaphragm; said gun portion comprising a barrel, means for attaching said expelling chamber portion adjacent the diaphragm thereof to the barrel of said gun so that the diaphragm of said chamber is free to move relative to the barrel of said gun and so that the axis of said barrel coincides with the axis of said chamber which extends from the center of the diaphragm to the center of the hole in the front wall, a piston in said barrel, said piston being weighted at its end nearest the chamber and being adapted to be moved axially of said barrel beyond the normal position of the diaphragm of said chamber, compressible spring means associated with said piston and adapted to force the latter toward and against the second reinforcing member of said chamber diaphragm when the compressible spring means is released, and trigger means adapted to hold but operable to release the spring when the latter is in the compressed position.

5. A toy adapted to shoot gaseous bullets comprising a gun portion, a vortex-expelling chamber portion and a means for attaching the gun portion to the chamber portion; said vortex expelling chamber portion comprising a front wall having a centrally located hole therein, a flexible elastic substantially planar diaphragm opposite said front wall, a stiff reinforcing member covering the central portion of said diaphragm, and solid side walls between the front Wall and the diaphragm; said gun portion comprising a barrel, means for attaching said expelling chamber portion adjacent the diaphragm thereof to the barrel of said gun so that the diaphragm of said chamber is free to move relative to the barrel of said gun and so that the axis of said barrel coincides with the axis of said chamber which extends from the center of the diaphragm to the center of the hole in the front wall, cooperating means on said barrel and said chamber for aiming the gun, an impellable weighted means movable in said barrel from a position in back of said diaphragm to a position beyond the normal position of the diaphragm of said chamber, means for impelling said weighted means toward and against the central part of said reinforcing member, and trigger means for controlling the opera 'tion of said impelling means.

6. A toy adapted to shoot gaseous bullets comprising a gun portion, a vortex-expelling chamber portion and a, means for attaching the gun portion to the chamber portion; said vortexexpelling chamber portion comprising a front wall having a centrally located hole therein, a flexible diaphragm having a stiff center area and a relatively elastic outer area opposite and substantially parallel to said front wall, and solid side walls extending between said front wall and the outer edges of said diaphragm; said gun portion comprising a barrel, a weighted striking means associated with said barrel movable in a forward and backward direction with respect to said barrel and means in said barrel for forceably impelling said striking means in a forward direction with respect to said barrel; said means for attaching the gun portion to the chamber portion extending from the side walls of the vortexexpelling chamber to that part of the gun portion which is outside of but adjacent to the line of movement of said weighted striking means so that said striking means is adapted to strike the stiff center area of said diaphragm and suddenly 'move the latter towards said front wall.

7. The device as set forth in claim 6 which includes two cooperating means for aiming the gun, the first of said cooperating means being located on said gun portion and the second of said cooperating means being located on said chamber portion.

' GERHART WEISS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,473,178 Dray Nov. 6, 1923 1,926,585 Gibbons Sept. 12, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 22,401 Great Britain 1914 

